[Stevie]

I went back to work tonight; and finally got to make the X axis parts; a few nights drill and tapping plus a few small details and it will be complete for manual work; I'll post a pic once its assembled

Next will be the CNC re-fit for the cross slide; the X is already done and the belt/pulleys are coming

[Stevie]

As promised; the drive for the X axis; the bronze spacer is a dumby just till the timing belt pulley arrives



The overall shot of the lathe; I'll engine turn finish the whole thing once I'm happy with the workings



Next will be adding steppers; the alum support for the X axis stepper is long untill I establish the right belt length; I've ordered a 6.5" center to center with the 15 tooth pulleys for now

[Urgundiz]

Impressive... I can't find more words.

/U

[arvidb]

It's amazing to see what a skilled person can do with a few pieces of metal. I'm trying to scoop everything up and learn as much as I can . Really cool, thanks for sharing it with us, Stevie!

Arvid

[RotarySMP]

Nice work Stevie.

To your question about motor size, a friend of mine CNC'd a Emco Unimat which is about the same size with NEMA 17's.
http://www.pcspeed.keyspace.de/unima...unimat_cnc.htm

It worked fine. Not exactly fast rapids, but usable. Are the NEMA 17's you have low inductance?

You are probably better off with a Nema 23 on Z.

[Stevie]

Thanks for the link; it's just a bit smaller than mine

I've decided on 23 sized

[InventIt]

Amazing work. Keep us updated...

[Stevie]

I'm thinking the compound can be removed for the CNC use; I can always replace it for manual work
I'll increase the cross slide capacity that way too; I feel 5/8" max turnable dia is a bit limiting so the prospect of mounting a 4 or 3 jaw is always within the range of possiblities

[Stevie]

Here is the X drive with the handwheel support off; inside you can see the 2 small ball brgs that support the leadscrew; there are 2 more just behind the timing pulley



I decided since the lathe will now be CNC controled I'd need it to be as free as possible; hence the next 3 pics; the first is the handwheel support for the cross slide; here I have machined the big dia to take a ball brg; the support holding screws had to be re-drilled deeper to make room



Here is the back of the hand wheel; I machined just a few thou off to make the brg fit (I got lucky on this one)



And now the oppisite end of the cross slide lead screw; I machined the brg dia into the cross slide block and re-machined the leadscrew down to suit; just behind the brg is a wave washer to keep tension on the set-up (got it from a 17 sized stepper)
I still have to make the drive coupling that will take the place of the small lock coller

[Stevie]

I got home and found the first of the Compumotor microstep drivers/motor combo

I used the self test to run the motor at 1-r/p/sec; just to test the drive/motor and to see how the motor which is nema 23 sized would perform; it ran the saddle up and down the bed with no problems; I even asked my little girl to try to stop the saddle; she could not and other than the motor humming a bit; she had no effect at all.

The drive is a Zeta4 with the matching motor I think it's about 65oz/in holding; bigger motors can be used with this drive all the way up to a 400oz/in monster; I have the Japan servo 310oz/in but these are for my mill project

I've never felt the power of a stepper before; and although I did manage to make it skip steps under the self test function; I'm impressed; for a small one; it's got some push

So with the other drive and motor arriving tomorrow; next will be the mountings for the steppers (and one coupling) I'm hoping to be moving it with computer control soon

[Ken_Shea]

I'm hoping to be moving it with computer control soon

We are anxious for you as well Stevie.

I have a Haas CNC mill here at the shop but all the fun you guys are having is making me want to get something CNC going on at home. I have been over the months putting together some parts, and I think a router/mill may just be the ticket.

EDIT:
It has to be something that is noisy enough to make my wife mad


Ken

[Stevie]

There's nothing like something to make them mad; mine's always mad at me; just so long as i still get my nummies I'm ok with the mad thng

ooops edit; that should have been nummies

[Stevie]

Hey Ken

Great news on the Mill front; I just won 2 35mm THK slides 1 meter long with 4 trucks on eBay; I got the last bid with 2 seconds left; $202.50; I'm pleased; my wifes pi**ed; so I guess it was a good night all round

[Ken_Shea]

Great Stevie,
Really good price, I got a set of HSR25 by 32" with 4 blocks and paid 252.00 and thought that was a good buy, but not as good as you got. And you got the added bonus of getting your wife P***ed Man some people get all the breaks, mine just looked at me like I was crazy. I am not Crazy, I don't care what everyone else says, I am not crazy, I am much better since I had my treatment

It will be a while before any mummies for Stevie

Keep us posted on that sweet little sucker

Ken

[Stevie]

And what are the rails for; is the cat out of the bag

come on; spill the beans; your about to build a home mill arn't you



That will be the end of your nummies too

[Ken_Shea]

Yeah, I admit it, I have been putting together over some months items to build a CNC router/mill to play around with at home. Not really all that set as to size but not too large maybe a cutting area of 36" x 30" x 6" . You can't be a CNC fan and not want to build something can you?


I have a very powerful 3hp x 10,000 rpm motor I would like to drive it remotely with but have not really spent a lot of time figuring how or where to place it, it is bigger then a router, may just go with a router to simplify things.

May start on the plans soon and begin building it come fall when business slows down.

Ken

[Stevie]

It lives



Yes I know the z axis is just cobbled together (motor mount) but the mill at work is tied up this weekend; it will be similar to the X axis motor mount

It will now move under turbocnc control; I am 1 happy camper

[Ken_Shea]

It will now move under turbocnc control; I am 1 happy camper

And you have a right to add "Proud" to that statement as well Stevie, it is one sweet setup.

Ken

[Stevie]

Got the cross-slide stepper mount made today on my lunch time; it's a 2 piece mount with a base and the outer plate for the motor; it's screwed to the inner piece with 4-40 countersunk screws; then the inner is screwed to the saddle with 6-32 in counterbored holes

[Mr.Chips]

It’s a beautiful piece of equipment, you can be very proud. Enough said.
It would be so nice to see a video of it running.
Hager